Looking for the best ethernet router is no picnic. You have to consider the specifications, speed, preferences, compatibility, and more. If you are new in this, the jargon, terms, and numbers might confuse you. But don’t worry, we will help you dissect everything that you need to know about one of the best routers out there for small businesses.
Linksys is an American-based company with the vision of helping people work better, whether in their homes or offices. They specialize in data networking hardware products like wired and wireless ethernet routers, audiovisual devices, internet video cameras, and more.
The company developed the Linksys LRT214 Business Gigabit VPN router, which is a good solution when several people are going to connect, like small businesses and organizations. Here is the much-awaited Linksys LRT214 Business Gigabit VPN router review to help you decide whether it’s the perfect router for you or not.
Secured and reliable connection for every user
Linksys promises to bring high-speed performance whether for your homes or small businesses. It also features an intuitive web administrative interface. This means that even without IT support or the help of a professional, this router is straightforward and can be easily used by customers even without prior knowledge. It is a dual-WAN router that supports WAN failover which minimizes network downtime.
Remote access to VPN
For the uninitiated, Virtual Private Network, or VPN, refers to extending a private network to a public network. It hides your IP address and is more secure. With LRT214 Business Gigabit VPN router, it has an OpenVPN Server Support that can accommodate up to 5 iOS and Android users. You can easily connect to the devices of the authorized router users using two-factor authentication. Its site VPN also features VPN backup for site-to-site tunnel, NAT-traversal, 50 IPsec site-to-site tunnels, Split DNS over site-to-site tunnel, and Dead Peer Detection (DPD).
There’s also VLAN Tagging, or 802.1q, which helps owners to route network traffic. This is perfect if people who use network work on different floors or rooms. This will hardly affect the network’s speed and performance, so you won’t have to worry about that. It supports around 50 VPN tunnels.
For a very long time, there has been a growing debate on which VPN service or provider is the best. In this regard, the nord vpn versus express vpn debate has been gaining a lot of steam. Both are market leaders in the VPN space and offer a host of packages that suits practically every price point. Yes, you need to compare the functionalities at the end of the day to ensure that you are getting the best value for your buck.
Beginner Friendly UI
Once you plug this route, you can already use it right away. The Ethernet router’s user interface is pretty much straightforward and easy to navigate. Luckily, the UI has been improved by Linksys. There are five tabs laid horizontally, while nine other support tabs can be seen vertically. You’ll easily see the setup tab, DHCP, system management, port management, firewall, VPN, EasyLinkVPN, and log. These are pretty much everything you need for configuring the router.
Firewall customization
Through a firewall, it allows the owner to sift and regulate the traffic within the business network. This is done through source and destination IP addresses. You may also enable rules and restrictions under firewalls like Denial of Service (DoS), SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection), schedule-base access rules, web filtering, and keyword blocking. You may also block java, cookies, Active X, and http proxy servers.
Enjoy the router’s other features
You may also make use of the following features: QoS-Rate Control, and Priority-Based Bandwidth Controls. There are features for monitoring such as the SNMP trap, Syslog, and email alert. There’s also the DMZ ports: DMZ range and subnet.
Takeaway
Overall, this ethernet router is a good solution for small businesses and organizations. It offers a lot of flexible features, security, and customization without the need of spending too much. Furthermore, its features and specifications resemble expensive ethernet routers. It is one of the best SMB wired routers in the market.